MACK – Let’s Revisit -SP - Jose Chirinos
Jose Javier Chirinos is a right-handed starting pitcher in the New York Mets’ minor league system, currently with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones (as of mid-to-late 2026). Background and Profile
- Born: October 16, 2004, in Los Puertos de Altagracia, Venezuela (age 21 in 2026).
- Physical: 6'3", 170 lbs; bats/throws R/R. He has a lanky frame with a low-effort, whippy, low-three-quarters arm slot (sometimes noted for a loose resemblance to Jacob deGrom in delivery/appearance, though the stuff comparison does not hold).
- Signed: January 15, 2022, by the Mets for a modest $10,000 bonus out of Venezuela. He has steadily progressed from the Dominican Summer League through the complex and full-season levels.
- Prospect status: Ranked as the Mets’ No. 25 prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2026.
- Scouting grades (2026): Fastball 50, Slider 55, Changeup 45, Cutter 50, Control 45, Overall 40.
- He has a deep enough mix to project as a potential backend starter, though command/control remains a work in progress and he faces Rule 5 eligibility soon.
In 2026:
- Strong start at Single-A St. Lucie: 9-G, 7-ST, 3-1, 2.36, 1.04, 42-IP, 48-K, 10-BB
- High-A Brooklyn: 15-ST, 1-7, 4.00, 1.39, 72-IP, 77-K, 32-BB
- Fastball (primarily two-seam/sinker, with some four-seam usage): Sits 92–95 mph (averages around 93 in recent looks), with armside run. Above-average extension helps it play up. Used roughly ~50% or as a primary pitch; more of a setup offering than a pure swing-and-miss pitch due to movement profile. Grades around average (50).
- Cutter: 85–88 mph (mid-to-high 80s). Increased usage in 2026; gets a lot of strikes. Limited pure movement but effective when tunneled with the fastball or slider. Grades around 50.
- Slider: Best secondary and main swing-and-miss pitch (grade 55). High-70s to low-80s, with slurvy action; he has variations including a shorter 79–81 mph version and a larger upper-70s sweeper. Good horizontal/vertical break and generates healthy whiffs, though it may need tightening against higher-level hitters.
- Changeup: 83–86 mph (high-70s to high-80s range noted in some reports). Armside fade/run; less consistent and doesn’t always fool lefties as effectively as desired (grade 45). Velocity band can be wider than ideal.
Overall, Chirinos is a developing, projectable right-hander with a workable arsenal and improving results as he moves up. His success hinges on refining command and consistency with the secondaries against more advanced hitters.
4 comments:
Chirinos will pitch for the Mets by 2028 if he stays healthy. How much is up to his progress
Not sure he will make it that far. It is actually a little disappointing that the number 25 prospect in the organization grades out as just above average and has taken years to rise to A ball. Who knows what rule 5 will look like in the new CBA, but I don't project that Chirinos will be protected in an organization with such talent at the higher levels.
Fortunately, few players get lost in the Rule 5 draft
I don't see losing him to Rule 5 since he hasn't shown enough to stay on a ML team for an entire year. On the other hand, I don't know if he brings anything special to the table that would give confidence of his projectability as a SP or a reliver, but he is young and probably has room to develop over next couple of years.
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